| Wounded Warrior Fellowship |
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I’d like to remind our community about the Wounded Warrior fellowship opportunity in my office. While we continue to receive a large number of stateside applications, I am actively looking for someone local to fill the position. If you reside in our territory presently, have been honorably discharged and released from active duty within the last five years, you may qualify!
Please visit https://www.usajobs.gov and search “Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program” to find additional requirements and information.
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| Congresswoman Plaskett Speaks About Mental Health |
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| Click here to view the speech. |
This week Congresswoman Plaskett led a Congressional Black Caucus Special Order on the state of mental health in the Black community and the stigma surrounding it. During the speech, the Congresswoman spoke about the disparities in access to mental health treatment. The Virgin Islands specifically has a lack of treatment facilities. This has caused the Virgin Islands to spend millions of dollars annually to send mental health patients out of the territory. The Black community often ignores symptoms of mental illness. For the well being of our communities, mental health must be regarded as seriously as physical health. |
| Celebrating Native American Heritage Month |
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| Click here to view the speech. |
On Wednesday, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett commemorated Native American Heritage Month, which was established to celebrate the indigenous peoples of the Americas and their contributions. During a one-minute speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Plaskett told the story of the day Columbus encountered the Carib tribe at Salt River on St. Croix. She also highlighted words in the English language which are derived from the language of the Taino people. These words include barbeque, Caribbean, guava, canoe, cay, hammock, hurricane, potato, tobacco, and more. |
| Rural Health Day |
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| Click here to view the speech. |
Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett took to the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday to observe Rural Health Day, bringing awareness to the obstacles to making healthcare accessible in rural America.
The Virgin Islands is classified as a rural area. We also share similarities with other parts of rural America, such as an older less affluent population and higher rates of chronic disease than urban and suburban areas.
Due to geographical distance from the contiguous United States and territorial status, the Virgin Islands faces even further challenges in making quality healthcare accessible within the territory.
The Congresswoman also took the time to thank the healthcare professionals of the Virgin Islands for their work and commitment to the health and well-being of Virgin Islanders. |
| Thanksgiving Day Message |
As we count the many things of which we are grateful for on this Thanksgiving Day, we express gratitude for the love, happiness, and strength within our lives. Thanksgiving is more than a day filled with excellent food and camaraderie. Rather, it is a day that gives us the opportunity to remember the mistakes of history that have shaped the world today, evaluate the things most important in our lives and deepen our relationships with our loved ones and our community. Those are the relationships that we lean on in times of hardship. These are challenging times in our communities and around the world. Take the time to think of how you can show kindness and share your bounty with those not as fortunate as yourself.
May you harvest the best things in life, and reap happiness and peace always. |
ST.CROIX DISTRICT OFFICE
60 KING STREET
FREDERIKSTED, VI 00840
340.778.5900 |
ST.THOMAS DISTRICT OFFICE
9100 HAVENSIGHT
PORT OF SALE MALL, SUITE 22
ST. THOMAS, VI 00802
340.774.4408 |
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